HOLISTIC ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP Gino Aisenberg Associate Dean and

HOLISTIC ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP Gino Aisenberg, Associate Dean and Associate Professor Kelly Edwards, Associate Dean and Professor UW Graduate School Diversity Pillar Leadership: With Vanessa Alvarez, Rachel Messer, and Cynthia Morales

CGS Report (2015): First Principles 1. Diversity is essential to the overall success of graduate programs. 2. It is critical to think beyond the admissions process when developing strategies for diversity and inclusion. 3. Holistic review processes are most likely to be successful when well-aligned with a graduate institution’s mission and with the goals of particular graduate programs.

ETS recommends contextualizing GRE scores: > “The content validity of the tests…should be determined by reviewing each test carefully and then making subjective decisions as to the weight, if any, the scores on GRE tests should receive in relation to other admission factors. ” – ets. org

Changes occurring around the U. S. (2014 data)

N=171 2014 data

Implicit Bias > How does it impact our admissions practices? – Preference for certain undergraduate institutions? – Using surrogate metrics to create a short list? > How informed are our admissions selections for: – Diverse cohorts of students? – Diverse career pathways post-graduation?

Emerging Evidence > Studies of graduates from UNC, Vanderbilt, and UCSF show GREs, undergrad institution, and undergraduate GPA to be: – “Weak predictor” of first semester performance alone – Not associated with graduate school productivity – Not associated with graduate school GPA Data summarized in Benderly, Science 2017

Strengths of holistic review: > Consideration of more than one criteria—seeks to “listen to” and take into account context of applicant’s talents, skills, abilities as well as non-cognitive qualities and attributes and experiences. > Allows for more robust inclusion of applicants with diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences conducive to the excellence of a world-class and public university.

Does dropping GRE lower “quality” of program? UW MSW Program: > Not requiring submission of GRE scores as part of the application to the Master’s program of study led to higher mean GPA in successive cohorts of students.

What factors impact student success? saratmd. com

National First Generation College Day! > Celebration of students, staff, faculty, leadership who were in the first generation of their families to complete 4 -year degree. First gen students are: – Resilient, multi-taskers, committed to purpose, multi-lingual…

Admissions Challenges: > > Large numbers of applicants Limited review time Financial constraints – investment of resources Searching for predictors of success in program

PANEL DISCUSSION Department Representatives: • • Bioengineering: Peggy Sharp and Kalei Combs Political Science: Sophia Jordán Wallace Astronomy: Emily Levesque Biology: Marissa Heringer

CGS Report: Promising Practices 1. Gather and analyze department-specific data on graduate admissions. 2. Provide faculty members who make admissions decisions with the context needed to evaluate students appropriately, including information on use of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). 3. Offer guidance on the optimal sequence for reviewing application materials.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION Your turn: • Where do you see opportunities to adapt and shift within your admissions? • Where do you anticipate getting stuck or hitting roadblocks? • How would you make the case to your faculty or chair?

TAKING THIS BACK Your turn: • What is one thing you are taking away from today? • What is one action step you might take in the next month?

Thank you for coming!